Something Strange Is In The Air

Chapter One

Day 1 - A Few Hours Before Dawn

Jim lay awake in bed. He could hear Blair’s heartbeat and (almost) regular breathing in the room downstairs, but he couldn’t see him. How could he be sure Blair was alright when he couldn’t see him?

Okay, so he was being paranoid. But Blair actually died a couple of weeks ago! Jim would feel much better if he could see that Blair was alright. Who cared if he got any sleep?

He got out of bed, pulled on his jeans, and went downstairs.

Blair’s door was closed.

Jim turned the knob and slowly pushed the door open. Blair was lying there, sound asleep, his curls a riot over his pillow. He crushed another pillow to his chest like a child with a stuffed bear. Every so often he would take a deep, sobbing breath against that pillow.

Jim pulled a chair over to the doorway and sat, watching. He couldn’t take his eyes off Blair. Somewhere deep inside, he feared that if he closed his eyes, Blair would disappear; that saving him - calling him back - would turn out to be a dream.

Blair turned in his sleep, whimpering.

Jim couldn’t take it any more. Blair needed him! He had thought watching would be all he needed to believe Blair was safe. It wasn’t. He had to touch him. He had to feel Blair’s heartbeat, not just hear it.

Jim pulled the chair back into its place. Then he carefully slipped into Blair’s room. He stood there, looking at Blair’s back for what seemed like an eternity. Finally, certain he was sleeping deeply, Jim climbed into the bed behind Blair and pulled him carefully into his strong arms.

Blair did not awaken. Nestling into Jim’s embrace, he settled. In his dreams he was finally safe. The nightmares receded. He wasn’t being thrown, unconscious, into that fountain over and over again any more. Instead, he could see Jim’s face as he came to. The worry and terror in Jim’s eyes was more than friendship, deeper than love. It was indefinable.

They hadn’t really talked since it happened. They has sort of bypassed the heavy stuff, probably because Blair was still recovering. The trip to Sierra Verde really hadn’t helped. And Jim knew himself. He would never talk about emotional issues unless Blair forced him to. Or he made himself do it. He had no choice, really. He had to talk about the feelings locked deep inside him. If he didn’t, he would lose Blair. Of that, at least, he was certain. If he avoided it, Blair might stay, but It would never be the same - never be as good. If he took the chance - trusted Blair on the deepest level - Blair might still leave. But if he stayed... Things would be better than ever before. Jim couldn’t stand the thought of Blair staying to guide him as a mere obligation. He needed Blair to want to be there. To want to be with him.

If he didn’t, it would be better if Blair left.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Blair stirred into wakefulness.

He felt Jim wrapped around him. Felt the steadiness of his breathing, the strength of his arms and the weight of his leg draped over Blair’s.

He wasn’t sure if this was a dream or a nightmare.

He decided not to test it. He lay as still as he could and carefully regulated his breathing. It was comforting, this feeling of safety.

Suddenly, Blair was terrified. What if it was only an illusion?

He couldn’t control the tension in his body or the change in his heart rate. He was too frightened to keep his breathing regular. Soon, the erratic nature of his physical responses woke Jim.

Blair pulled away. Jim pulled him back into his arms. "You're safe," he murmured sleepily. "I’m here. I’ll protect you."

Blair’s terrified response shocked Jim fully awake. "But who’s gonna protect me from you?"

Blair’s question was like a bullet through Jim’s brain. He meant every word.

Jim released Blair instantly and rolled off the bed to stand, staring down at his friend. He couldn’t speak. He couldn’t feel. He was totally numb, head to toe. He couldn’t even feel the hardwood floor beneath his bare feet or the coarseness of the soft denim against his skin.

Even in the shadows of the predawn, Blair could see that Jim was shaking violently. "Jim? Are you alright?"

Blair sounded so far away. The shadows deepened around him. Jim had to strain to see his silhouette. "No, Chief," he said softly. "I’m not alright." He turned and, trusting his limited vision in the pale light, he made his way out of the room. He tried to go upstairs, but he couldn’t feel where he was stepping, so he made for the sofa, instead. Sinking down onto its soft cushions should have been a relief, but he was past emotion. Past hope. He shivered, but he didn’t feel cold. He didn’t feel anything. Touch was gone. Hearing and Sight were already limited.

Blair rushed over and knelt in front of him. "Oh, man! You’re like ice!"

Jim couldn’t feel Blair touching him, but he could see. He closed his eyes. He wished he could close his ears, too, so he couldn’t hear Blair’s concern. He understood perfectly, now. Blair was concerned about his sentinel, not his friend. He understood that Blair was never really his friend at all. It’s hard to be friends with a science project. And he finally knew that, to Blair, that was all he was.

A tear rolled down his face. He couldn’t feel it.

Blair reached out and brushed the hot tear away from Jim’s frigid face. "JIM!" No response. "Damn it, Jim! Say something! Don’t zone out on me, man!"

Blair was on the verge of panic. He grabbed Jim by the arms and shook him.

"Jim! Why are you doing this? What’s going on man? You gotta tell me! I can’t read your mind!"

*Damn, Right now I wish I could, though!*

"protect..."

"What? Protect? Who? Me? From what?"

"me..."

"Oh, no... NO! You are NOT doing this! I will not let you destroy yourself! Listen, you selfish sonuvabitch, you are NOT gonna do this! Just this once think about me, okay? Do you have any idea how badly it scared me, waking up like that? In your arms? I wasn’t sure if I was awake or not! I was terrified that I was caught in another nightmare and you were about to turn into Alex and turn on me. Do you hear me? I was afraid!"

Jim’s voice was slow and hollow. "I frightened you. I wanted you to feel safe. I wanted you to want me beside you. You don’t. I scare you." Jim sighed, sadly. "So I have no choice but to accept that. At least I’m still good as a science project... I guess..."

"A science project? A SCIENCE PROJECT? Is THAT how you think I see you? Is that how you see yourself?" Blair was incredulous. After a long moment, he continued more gently. "Listen, Jim. You are the most important thing in my life. Not my Dissertation. You. You are the reason I get up in the mornings. You are the reason I have stayed in one place for the longest I ever have in my life. If tomorrow morning, I woke up and found out that someone else had published a thorough discovery on Sentinels, rendering all my research and hard work obsolete, YOU would still be the most important thing in my life. You are more important than anything or anyone! Got that?"

"Not Naomi..." Jim whispered, certain.

"Yes!" Blair said deliberately. "YOU are more important to me than Naomi! I am NOT exaggerating, Jim! You are more important to me than ANYONE! Even my mother. Are you getting this? Is it sinking in?"

Jim was beginning to believe, but it wasn’t nearly enough. "Why are you afraid of me?" he asked with the terror of a child too often rejected and abandoned.

Blair’s expressive, blue eyes filled with compassion - and love. Too bad Jim couldn’t see well enough to know it. He reached up and took Jim’s face in his hands. "Oh, Jim. Don’t you know that you have more power to hurt me than anyone else on the face of the earth?"

"I only know that no one has ever hurt me as much as you did with that one simple question. You weren’t joking. You meant it. And I don’t have an answer."

"Okay." Blair took a deep breath and moved to sit beside Jim. "You're right. But maybe I asked the wrong question. Lemme try again. Do I need to be protected from you?"

"Maybe." Jim’s senses began to return to normal, but he was still chilled. "I can’t promise I’ll never hurt you. And you can’t promise you won’t hate me tomorrow."

"Oh, I think I can!"

"No... you see, Blair," he paused.

*This must be a doozy! He called me ‘Blair’ not ‘Chief’*

"I’m not sure how to say this except straight out. And when I tell you, chances are, you’re gonna want to leave. If you do want to leave, don’t stay. I couldn’t bear to be nothing more than an obligation to you. I have a lot more control now, since the ritual, so you don’t have to worry about how I’ll get along."

Blair waited in silence. This was obviously hard for Jim to say.

Jim knew his life hung in the balance as he forced the words out of his mouth. "I belong to you. I am yours. Heart and soul. And body. You are more than my best friend. You are the someone I love. I am totally, without reservation, head over heels, in love with you, Blair Sandburg. I need to feel your body close to mine. I need to kiss and caress you. I need your hands on my body. Every time we touch casually, I wish it was more. Much more. I know that my anger put you in danger. Hell, I actually got you killed – "

"But you called me back! I was –"

"It doesn’t matter! I’ve caused you so much pain and suffering. When I think of all that you’ve been through since we met - how many times you’ve been hurt - I feel like I’m breaking inside. And when I found you - facedown in that fountain - I thought I was going to die, too. That is why I didn’t give up - couldn’t give up! I couldn’t go on living if you died."

"So..." Blair considered his words carefully. All those Psych courses were certainly coming in handy. "You have all this guilt over me and my injuries?"

"None of this would have happened if you had never met me!" Jim insisted.

"No, probably not," Blair mused, quietly. His dreams were finally coming true! Jim loved him back! But there were obviously some issues that needed to be dealt with before they could get on with their lives.

*No. Our life... Together!*

"Okay, Jim, did you mean what you said about belonging to me?"

"Yes."

"You used to work in vice so you know how it works, don’t you? If you belong to me, then I own you."

"Yes, you do."

"So, you are my slave. My sex slave. True?"

Jim looked over at Blair with wary hope. Blair looked back at him, his expression questioning and serious. Jim quickly lowered his eyes and answered, "Yes, master."

"And this means that you do whatever I say, whenever I say and you do nothing I do not specifically say do, correct?"

"Yes, Master."

"Then prove it." Blair’s eyes were hard and calculating. "Strip," he commanded, harshly. Jim’s eyes widened, but he complied. It only took a few seconds to strip off his jeans. Blair’s eyes roamed all over Jim’s sculpted body. He even had him turn around in a circle - slowly. *It’s a good thing we have the day off, but that won’t be enough time. I’ll have to call Simon and tell him we need some time off.* His thoughts broke off abruptly as something occurred to him. He leapt to his feet and began pacing.

"Have you ever had sex with a man?"

Jim was confused. He stood naked before Blair and his skin felt hot under the brazen gaze of his Guide. He wasn’t entirely sure if Blair was simply tormenting him or if he intended to do something. "Yes, Master," he answered slowly, "but it’s been a very long time."

"When? And with whom?" Blair demanded, a frown creasing his brow.

"In Peru. With Incacha. I didn’t remember that we had been lovers until he was dying.?

Blair sighed in relief. He was glad it had been Incacha. Still, he was a little jealous. "Well, at least he got to die in your arms. If I was dying, that’s where I'd want to be."

Jim just looked at Blair in wonder.

"Sit down on the sofa." Jim did as he was told. Blair disappeared into his room and then emerged only to disappear into the bathroom.

Blair walked over to the sofa with a shoe box in his hands. He had Jim lie down on his side against the back of the sofa, pull his knees up to his chest and look at the far wall. With his eyes turned away from Blair, Jim had no idea what Blair was up to.

Blair opened the shoe box and took out a tube of lubricant. He squeezed a little onto his finger and carefully touched Jim’s anus. Jim flinched, then relaxed as Blair began a running commentary on what he was doing while circling his finger around the outside of Jim’s hole. With his other hand stoking Jim’s thigh, Blair slid that one finger deep inside. Jim was tight around his finger, so Blair stretched him gently. Soon, with a little more lube, he was able to add a second finger without hurting his beloved. He began to stretch in earnest, scissoring his fingers inside Jim’s body. Finally, he pushed three fingers slick with lube into Jim, drawing out a moan caught somewhere between pain and pleasure. Blair did not move his fingers this time. He just held them deep inside Jim, giving him time to adjust to the width. Then, after several more minutes had passed, Blair began to move his fingers in and out, pumping Jim fairly hard.

Jim slammed back against Blair’s hand. "More..." he whimpered. "I need... you to... use all four fingers! Hell! Use your hand!" Jim was actively arching his back, moving desperately against Blair’s hand.

Blair pulled out suddenly and Jim moaned at the loss. "Not yet. Not today. I don’t want to injure you. It’s been too long. You’re too tight. Besides, I have something else planned for this morning." Blair had a decidedly wicked grin on his face when he ordered Jim onto his back. Blair stripped out of his t-shirt and boxers and moved to straddle Jim’s chest. He flicked Jim a foil packet and said, "Put this on me. Now."

Jim quickly ripped open the condom and slid it over Blair’s length. The feel of Blair’s thick cock in his hands was wondrous. He wanted to suck it, but Blair had not told him to, so Jim waited. Blair moved back to the foot of the sofa and pulled a leather cock ring out of the shoe box and quickly snapped it tight around the base of Jim’s cock. Jim wasn’t all that good at patience. Not when it came to stuff like this, anyway. He was great on a stakeout, though, so he concentrated on that. *I’m on a stakeout. The bad guys could make their move at any time. I have to be ready.*

Nevertheless, he wasn’t ready when Blair’s well-lubed cock rammed into his ass. Wow, it felt good! It hurt too, but that was good in its own way. He was filled and stretched and Blair just kept on pumping in and out like a piston. He was raising his hips to meet Blair’s with every stroke. Over and over again, Blair slid over his prostate, wringing exquisite cries of joy from Jim’s lips. Blair did not touch Jim’s cock and he would not allow Jim to either. It was hard and bobbing anyway, and every time Blair passed over Jim’s secret spot, Jim jerked, and his muscles clenched around Blair. Suddenly, Blair came, spurting into the condom deep inside Jim’s ass. Jim moaned helplessly, unable to find the release he sought. Blair pulled out of Jim carefully. He tied off the condom and threw it away. Then he got another condom and rolled it slowly onto Jim’s engorged member. Jim nearly came right then, but Blair spoke sharply.

"No, Jim! You have to control it. I want you to come inside me." He gave Jim a few precious moments to regain control. Then, lubing up liberally, he impaled himself on Jim’s cock with a moan of pain and pleasure. "It’s been a long time for me, too, but I have these toys, see..." Blair chuckled. He moved up and down on Jim’s long shaft, managing to find his own prostate with nearly every downward stroke. "But none of my toys compares to this... to you," Blair gasped out.

Blair moved Jim’s hands to his penis, encouraging him to stoke and fondle. It wasn’t long before Jim’s loving hands had Blair hard again. When Blair was close to coming, he pulled open the cock ring on an upward stroke, and when he was once again impaled completely, with the entire length of Jim’s long cock deep inside him, he came hard. His muscles convulsed around Jim’s cock driving the sentinel into his own orgasm. He came so hard he actually passed out. Blair smiled down at his lover. "I guess your sense of touch is doing ok," he whispered.

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* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Something Strange Is In The Air

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter Two

Day 1 - Late Morning

When Jim came to, Blair was on the phone. He listened carefully to both sides of the conversation.

"Yeah, I know. But we both need the time, Simon. Jim and I need to work some things out."

"What sort of things?"

"Simon, I died a couple of weeks ago! Surely that’s worth some downtime?!" Blair was exasperated.

"Okay, okay! Jim’s got a lot of time stored up anyway. How long do you need? A week? Two? A month?"

"Tell you what... Put us down for a month. If we don’t need it all, we’ll let you know."

"Fine. Whatever. Vacation approved! Now leave me alone! I’ve gotta find someone crazy enough to take this case. I was gonna give it to Jim but..."

"Forget it, Simon! Nobody can guilt trip like Naomi! I’ve developed an immunity!" Blair laughed.

"Oh, well. It was worth a try..." Simon responded, laughing under his breath.

"Sure. Have a nice month, huh?"

"Yeah. You, too," Simon said, mildly exasperated, himself, before he hung up.

"A month?? What are we gonna do for a whole month?" Jim wondered aloud.

"Oh, lots of things, lover. Lots of things," Blair assured him with a slow, sexy smile.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"The first thing I’ve gotta do is some serious shopping," Blair mused. "I’m gonna need some cash. A lot, actually. How much do you have in savings?" Blair asked, looking Jim straight in the eye.

"A lot. How much do you need?"

"I’m not sure. I know it’ll be a lot, though. Several thousand, at least. Give me your checkcard." Jim went upstairs, still stark naked, and retrieved his wallet. Blair sat back and enjoyed the view. "What’s the daily charge limit on those things, anyway?"

"I don’t know. I’ll call and ask. I know I can take out up to $500 from an ATM because of my high balance. If you spend more than $7500 it’ll drop below the minimum, though." Jim looked worried. "You aren’t planning to spend that much are you?"

"What if I am, slave?" Blair demanded, suddenly very harsh.

"Then I’ll need to transfer some money from another account to cover it, Master."

For that answer, Blair gifted Jim with a smile and a gentle kiss.

He was impressed by the submissive tone in Jim’s voice. It showed his sincerity, his desire to atone for the pain Blair had endured. Blair wished Jim didn’t blame himself for everything. They had both made mistakes, and they both paid the price. Blair could easily forgive Jim, but if Jim couldn’t forgive himself, their life together was over before it ever had a real chance to begin. Blair wasn’t about to let that happen. Whatever the price. Jim needed him.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

After a late breakfast, Blair was on the phone again. He was getting directions to a little out-of-the-way shop where they kept the items he needed in stock. After all, Cascade was practically around the corner from the most famous leather and bondage store in the country - make that the world. *Jim is gonna look sooo good in that skimpy leather slave’s harness.* Blair sighed at the lovely picture in his mind. He jumped up and hauled out his small sewing kit. Then he headed to the living room to get Jim’s measurements. All of Jim’s measurements. Jim was waiting on the sofa as ordered. He was already hard. *Hmmm... Gonna need to use the cock ring again.* Blair smiled in anticipation.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Blair walked up to the sofa and sat down beside Jim. He reached over and pulled a strip of leather from the shoe box. As he did so, he started talking. "This is called a double-helix cock ring. As you can see, it’s actually two rings connected in the middle." Blair began to fasten the cock ring. "The middle goes on top, here." He placed it on the top of Jim’s cock where it joined his body. "The larger ring goes down around your balls, like this." He fastened it tight. "And the smaller one goes around your penis, like this."

Jim winced as Blair tightened the ring. He was sure that it was too tight. He kept silent.

"Don’t worry, Jim. It’s also quick release," Blair assured him, pointing out the snap on top that would release both rings. Blair smiled. Jim sighed.

"I’m sure you already know this, but you’re not allowed to come without permission," Blair said in that infuriating matter-of-fact tone. Jim didn’t respond. It wasn’t a question. "I say when you come. I say if you come." Blair paused. "Do you understand?"

"Yes, Master," Jim answered, shaking a little.

"Good! Because we wouldn’t want any unfortunate accidents based on a misunderstanding, now would we?"

"No, Master."

"If you come without permission, you will be severely punished. If you masturbate without permission, even if you stop before you come, you will also be severely punished. Are these rules clear?"

"Yes, Master," Jim answered in a monotone, still shaking slightly.

Once that was said and with the cock ring in place, Blair pushed Jim over onto his side, so that his beautiful bottom was exposed. Blair pressed lightly against Jim’s hole. His finger slipped in without resistance. Jim was still well lubed inside. Blair smiled with satisfaction. Blair took a black butt plug out of the shoe box. It was classed as a ‘medium’ size plug. It was about 4 inches long, an inch and a half in diameter at it’s widest and it had a narrow section of only a half inch diameter near the thin, wide base. It wouldn’t slip out easily on it’s own. It would readily stay in place for as long as he wanted. Blair smiled. He wouldn’t need much more lube. Jim was ready for it now. Blair slipped the plug easily into Jim, who moaned in frustrated pleasure.

"Any pain?"

Jim was too far gone to speak, so he just shook his head and bit his lip.

Blair told him, "I want you to keep your sense of touch dialed down to the normal range, but not below normal. Now, I know you aren’t going to break the rules, my love. The cock ring is there to help you." Blair pulled him back into a sitting position. "Deep breaths... Deep breaths..." he coaxed, stroking Jim’s strained face.

As Jim’s breathing became more regular, Blair laid out his plan. "I’m going take your measurements, then I’m going to leave you here, alone, while I go to the store. I’m not going use your cuffs on you, though," he added with a lopsided smile. "That would be dangerous if I’m not here. Besides, there’s that sensitive skin to think about. No, I’m going to trust you to follow the rules." Blair grabbed a pen and notepad and made notes as he measured and talked. "Now there are a few special rules for this occasion. You will remain on the sofa at all times. The only exceptions to this will be to get a glass of water or food, or to go to the bathroom. If your bathroom visit requires you to remove the plug, you will cleanse it as needed and replace it immediately. The lube is here in this box. Be sure to use as much as you need. As for the cock ring, replace it as soon as you wash up. If the phone rings, you may answer it as usual.

"If someone comes to the door, it’s up to you, but you are not allowed to put on any clothes to answer the door. If absolutely necessary (meaning if Simon or someone else from work comes to the door) you may put on your silk robe. I put it on the chair. You are not to invite anyone in or encourage them to stay if they enter uninvited. Tell them you are busy and ask them to call first next time - as long as you’re on vacation. Barring these things, you are to stay on the sofa at all times.

"You may watch TV or listen to the stereo. I have placed the remotes within reach. You are also to keep an eye on the clock. Every 10 minutes, I want you to spend 5 minutes wiggling around however you need to in order to try to hit your prostate with the plug - but do not pull it out - just move it around inside you. This means you will spend 5 minutes out of every 15 trying to hit your prostate with the plug. And I do mean try! Do your very best to succeed. I’ll be able to tell if you only gave it a half hearted effort. If you succeed, keep hitting it until the 5 minutes is up. If you have not succeeded within those 5 minutes, stop trying and start the 10 minute countdown over again. If you have to remove the plug to go to the bathroom, try to find it when you reinsert the plug. Again, do this for a full 5 minutes and then restart the 10 minute countdown. BUT make absolutely certain the cock ring is in place first! you are not allowed to come while I am away. If you obey me, I will reward you when I get home. If not, I will have no choice but to punish you. And I assure you, you won’t enjoy being punished." Blair completed his list of measurements. Now everything was set. He was ready to go.

"Any questions?"

"May I use my hands to manipulate the plug? As long as I don’t pull it out?"

"Yes, you may. Look, in one minute it’ll be straight up noon. Might as well start now. I’ll tell you if you do anything I don’t approve of. Ready?"

"Yes, Master. Just say when."

Blair and Jim watched carefully as the second hand ticked around the wall clock. The instant it struck Noon, Blair said, "Now!"

Jim immediately began to grind around on the cushions trying to push the butt plug just a little deeper, a little over, a little up, trying to find that magic spot. He reached back and pressed and guided with his hand. Then he moved up to straddle the arm of the sofa, for leverage. Finally after the third minute had begun, he hit it. He let out a yelp of ecstasy.

"Good!" encouraged Blair, his eyes hot with passion. "Now that you’ve found it, hit it again! Keep hitting it, lover!"

Jim did as he was ordered. He kept hitting the spot over and over again until, finally, it seemed like an eternity later, Blair called, "Time!" Jim was in a haze of unfulfilled desire. He could barely concentrate, much less speak, but Blair was insistent. "Now you can find it more easily the next time. I think we better switch things, though. I will set the wall clock to chime every quarter hour. That will be your signal to stop. That means you need to begin again in less than 5 minutes, Jim. So watch the clock!"

Blair continued to speak, willing Jim to calm. "The rest of the times will be worse, Jim!" he warned. "This first time it took you more than 3 minutes just to find it. Next time you’ll find it very quickly. You must use the full 5 minutes allotted. It’ll get more and more difficult to come down each time, even with your sense of touch dialed down, but you cannot come until I remove the cock ring when I get home."

"How... long?" Jim asked, still breathing hard.

"I’m not sure... At least 3 hours, maybe more. I’ll call you if I’m not gonna be home by 5."

Jim shuddered in horror and took a deep ragged breath. He leaned his head back against the sofa and closed his eyes tight.

"Problem?" Blair asked innocently, as he gathered the items he needed for his shopping trip.

"No, Master. No problem." Jim’s tone was weary and resigned.

"Good. Glad to hear it. Uh, looks like the rest breaks over." He pointed to the clock and Jim watched as the final seconds ticked away... 9, 8, 7, 6...

Blair walked to the door and grabbed his keys.

...5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 0...

Jim immediately began to move. Blair watched. This time it only took Jim about 30 seconds to find that special place. He was obedient. Softly, he let out cry after cry of intense pleasure. Blair smiled as he slipped out the door, locking it securely behind him.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

When Blair returned at 12 minutes after 4, Jim was exactly as he left him. Sitting on the couch writhing in tormented ecstasy. He watched for the final minutes, until the clock chimed and Jim stopped moving. But he didn’t stop shaking. He was a trembling mass of flesh. Blair stepped over into Jim’s view as he turned off the chimes. "It’s almost over, Jim," he whispered. "I’m home."

Blair touched Jim’s head, feeling the softness of his sweat drenched hair. He picked up a hand towel from the sofa and gently wiped the sweat from Jim’s face. He dropped the towel and said, "It’s time to turn your sense of touch up a notch." He waited while Jim regained enough control to find his dials. "Got it?" Jim nodded, stiffly, as his trembling intensified. "Good, Jim. Hold on. Everything is gonna be just fine." Blair’s voice was soothing and gentle. Jim shuddered, painfully.

Blair knelt down between Jim’s legs and slipped his arms around him. Looking into his lover’s haunted eyes, he said sincerely "I love you, Jim."

Then he lowered his head and swallowed Jim’s engorged cock. Once it was deep in his throat, Blair released the cock ring.

Jim came instantly, sobbing his pleasure and relief. Blair swallowed every drop as he caressed his lover. When Jim was finished, Blair kissed his lips. He held Jim close until he finally stopped shaking.

Blair pulled Jim’s silk robe off the chair and pulled him to his unsteady feet. He helped Jim slip the robe onto his tall beautiful body. Just as they finished, there was a knock at the door. "Go upstairs and dress," Blair ordered, picking up Jim’s jeans and handing them to him. "They’re going to need your help."

Jim couldn’t help but wonder who ‘they’ were. His unspoken question was answered when Blair opened the door. ‘They’ were delivery guys. Apparently, Blair had not exaggerated the amount of stuff he was going to buy. ‘They’ carried in crate after crate and bag after bag. Then Jim was enlisted to help them move everything out of Blair’s room. Except the bed and the dresser. They just pushed those up against the walls - leaving two walls and plenty of floor space clear. Everything else got moved upstairs. Which wasn’t easy, even with 5 guys to do the work.

Once that was done, Blair pulled Jim into a loving embrace and whispered his orders so that only Jim could hear. Jim was to replace the cock ring and sit, naked, in the center of his bed (upstairs) and dial his hearing down so far he might as well have been deaf. He obeyed.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Blair was quite busy downstairs. The delivery guys helped him arrange and install all the heavy equipment he had bought. The rest they just sat in bags or in an orderly fashion on the dresser. Blair would arrange it to suit himself, latter, after they left. Once everything was safely in place, the delivery men left. Blair paid the three of them $100 each, in cash. Jim’s money... *But, hey, they did wait, as requested, before heading up to the loft with the first load of stuff. Giving Jim time to find release after a day of absolute torture!* Blair couldn’t help laughing. *I wonder how far he’s gonna let this go?*

Blair drifted back to the dresser. He started opening packages and cleaning the interesting new toys, in preparation. He had been home a good three and a half hours by the time he was done. Jim, he knew, hadn’t eaten any dinner, either. *Bet he’s starving. Hmmm... Maybe I ought to take care of that...*

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Blair took several small bags and one large one and climbed up to Jim’s bedroom - now theirs. He stood for a moment and just looked at the handsome man sitting cross-legged in the exact center of the King-size bed. "Jim," he said softly. No movement. *He still has his hearing dialed down.* He moved to where Jim could see him and smiled. Blair tapped his ear with a finger and Jim nodded slightly, as he began to dial back up.

Blair bounced onto the big bed with a grin. He reached out and wrapped his hand around Jim’s cock, still slightly swollen after today’s ordeal. It responded immediately. Blair pushed Jim back down onto the bed. Then he pushed Jim’s knees up toward his chin. Jim got the idea and pulled his arms around his knees, holding them in place. Blair pulled a moist soft cloth out of one bag and gently removed the butt plug. Jim winced. It had been in there all day and his rectum had certainly had a workout. He was feeling more than a little raw and abused. The cool cloth was soothing against his sensitive skin.

"Sorry, love. Do you need to go to the bathroom before we continue?"

"No, thank you, Master. I went earlier. I timed it correctly so that I stayed on schedule."

"Ah... Well, let’s have some fun. Then we’ll get you into your new clothes. By the way, I only spent about $6500. Your minimum balance is okay."

"Thank you, Master. How may I please you?"

Blair smiled, bright, cheery and downright evil. "Suck me off," he said. "But you can’t come!"

Jim took a deep breath. He moved up and unbuckled Blair's slacks. He slipped the pants to the floor and then removed Blair's soft boxers. When Blair’s beautiful, thick cock sprang free, Jim finally got to do what he had been dreaming of all day, throughout the torture of his frequently stimulated prostate and his bouts with ‘blue-balls’. And Blair said he couldn’t come... But he could make Blair come. That would be enough. It would have to be...

He lapped gently at Blair’s heavy balls, as he pressed his thumb up and rubbed under the head of Blair’s cock. He licked slowly up the sides, and lapped up the pre-cum from the tip.

Blair moaned. Laying back on the bed, he looked up at Jim and said sincerely, "Do what ever you want to with me. Just know, I’ll release your cock ring when I’m ready for you to come."

Jim nodded and whispered, "Yes, Master." He lowered his head and sucked Blair’s thick cock deep into his mouth. He sucked and sucked and when he thought he could take no more, he swallowed and swallowed again, taking Blair’s entire length into his mouth. He sucked and swallowed, massaging Blair’s width and length, until Blair spoke, breathlessly.

"Do you want me to come in your mouth? I’m very close. Decide soon, okay?" Jim couldn’t answer. His mouth was full. He sucked harder. Blair shivered. "I'll just take that as a yes..." Blair sighed happily. Jim continued to suck and swallow for a few moments, then Blair started to shake as he spurted his load down Jim’s waiting throat. Jim swallowed every last drop. He kept sucking gently until Blair started to get hard again. Then he started over in earnest. He kept it up until Blair was as hard as Jim was, himself. Then he pulled away and raised himself over Blair’s erection. He began to lower himself onto Blair’s rock-hard cock and as he did Blair realized – "WAIT! STOP! - Jim! You didn’t lube up!"

But Jim was past hearing him. He tried to push Jim off of him. His fear for Jim caused his erection to fade. Jim didn’t seem to notice. Blair had to stop this! He grabbed him by the arms and screamed, "JIM!" Finally Jim heard him. "STOP! NOW!" Blair ordered.

Jim pulled off of Blair and rolled away. He curled into a ball on the far side of the bed. Blair took deep breaths, getting control of his emotions. He was afraid Jim might have torn or damaged himself. That fear wasn’t going to go away until he examined his lover. Blair moved over to Jim and began to examine him. Jim was, surprisingly, pliant under Blair’s hands. Blair didn’t find any evidence that Jim had been hurt by his carelessness.

"You wanna explain that?" Blair demanded, rather than asked.

Jim whimpered his distress. "You said I could do anything I wanted with you. I thought that included having you inside me..."

"Yeah, it does! But it will NEVER include risking tearing your ass open by not lubing up!" Blair was angry, and he didn’t bother to hide it. "I LOVE you, Jim! I am not about to risk your health for a moments pleasure. I want the rest of our lives, not a momentary fling! You are –"

"You’re angry because I could have been hurt?" Jim asked, incredulously. "I thought..."

Blair pulled Jim into his arms. "I know, I know... But you thought wrong. I will always be happy to be inside you or to have you inside me." He touched Jim’s face, one hand on each side. "I will never let you risk hurting yourself, like that, though." He pulled Jim’s face down into a warm gentle kiss. It didn’t take long to turn hot and passionate. When they were both breathing hard Blair let his hands begin to wander. He caressed Jim, his hands trying to be everywhere at once. Jim slipped his hands around to Blair’s back and pulled him, hard, against his chest. He kissed his way down Blair’s neck to the point where it joined his shoulder.

Then he bit - hard - and tasted the coppery blood of his mate.

Somewhere deep inside, Blair understood what was happening. Moaning joyfully, Blair reached down and unfastened Jim’s cock ring. "Come for me, my love," he whispered, so low that only a sentinel would have heard him.

And Jim did...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Something Strange Is In The Air

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Chapter Three

Day 2 - Early Morning

They woke in each others arms, content and warm. For the moment, anyway. Jim looked at the clock. Six AM. His stomach growled. Blair groaned. "Oh, hell! We were supposed to actually eat last night!"

Jim’s laugh rumbled low in his chest as he pulled Blair closer and inhaled his scent.

"I don’t know what you’re laughing at! Did you eat at all yesterday afternoon?"

"I was a little distracted," Jim said dryly.

"Oh! And I suppose that’s my fault?"

Jim growled.

Blair laughed. "Okay, okay! It was my fault - I admit it!" he exclaimed as he scampered off the bed, grinning wildly. "Wanna try it again today?"

Jim’s growl deepened and his eyes narrowed dangerously... which was pretty funny from Blair’s point of view. After all, Jim was stretched out stark naked on the bed. Still, he somehow managed to look dangerous.

Blair’s expression softened. "Let’s go make ourselves some breakfast, lover." He tossed Jim his deep green silk robe and pulled a brand new royal blue one out of one of the bags he had carried up the night before.

Jim held up the robe with a disbelieving look. "Robes?" he asked.

"Yes, robes!" Blair insisted, blithely, as he put on the new robe and removed the store tags. "You go running around the loft naked all the time, and we’ll starve to death!"

Jim burst into laughter. He nearly fell off the bed.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Breakfast was playful and delicious. Jim discovered a whole new way to enjoy his favorite jam. Blair thought he would die. Jim was determined, though. It was his turn to torment his lover. Besides, Blair tasted wonderful with raspberry jam...

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The light-hearted fun of the early morning was over...

And the kitchen was a mess. Blair voted for calling in a maid. Jim vetoed that idea. "Didn’t you spend enough of my money yesterday?"

Blair grinned. *Just wait 'til you see what I bought.* He giggled.

Jim rolled his eyes.

Together, they had the kitchen spotless in less than half an hour.

Blair kissed Jim passionately, before taking his hand and leading him back upstairs. They still had a lot of exploring to do before he showed Jim the new ‘playroom’. Besides, he had brought those bags up last night... And they had nifty, fun, torture devices in them that Blair couldn’t wait to try out... On Jim...

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Once upstairs, Blair had pushed Jim onto the bed and briskly informed him that today they would begin to explore some more serious BDSM.

More serious.

After yesterday, those words were a little terrifying. He had worked very hard to obey Blair implicitly. Since his was a naturally dominant personality, it hadn’t been easy. It had actually been one of the most difficult things he had ever done... To keep stimulating himself on an ever more difficult schedule, knowing that release was NOT forthcoming...

Yeah. That had seemed like a nightmare.

Until Blair got home. Blair ordering him to turn up touch a notch... He could still remember how it felt. Blair’s warm mouth closing over his arousal... More stimulation was the last thing he’d needed. When Blair started swallowing, pulling him deeper into his throat, Jim actually cried with the horrible ecstasy of it. Then, to his surprise (he really believed Blair was NOT going to let him come), he felt the pressure of the cock rings release and he came. If he had not been sitting, he would have collapsed from the ferocity of his orgasm.

Blair had spent the last few minutes putting his choices for today’s toys into and onto Jim. He had Jim sitting on the edge of the bed, wearing only his new 7 Gates of Hell Cock Cage (a particularly nasty toy made of leather and steel, with seven - count ‘em, seven - steel rings, one circling the base of his cock and balls and the rest circling and confining his tender cock) - and the new, larger, butt plug, of course. Thankfully, he had been allowed to come at breakfast. Otherwise today really would be hell...

Jim left his reverie behind. He needed to listen. Blair was issuing commands, now.

"Okay, stand up! No! At attention! Pretend you’re still in the army," Blair ordered with a smirk. "That’s right! Now, at ease, soldier!" he mocked, wiggling his eyebrows. "But DON’T be so at ease that the butt plug falls out! Comfy?" Blair teased.

"Not particularly, Master," Jim answered, wryly, standing at ease, military style... except that when he was in the army, he had never - not once - stood at ease, stark naked with a huge butt plug filling his ass and as much of a hard-on as he could manage with seven steel rings tightly confining his most vulnerable parts. He clenched his rectal muscles to keep from expelling the butt plug. It was huge, and it seemed to fill him entirely, but he was still afraid it’s weight might cause it to slip out if he wasn’t careful. At attention he had his legs together, his body tensed, but at ease, his feet were shoulder width apart, leaving only it’s shape and his conscious effort to keep the butt plug in place.

"Good! Stay here - just like that - while I go change into appropriate clothing." Blair went downstairs into what used to be his room, but before closing the door, he called back up to Jim, "Don’t even think about moving!"

"Yes, Master."

Jim was scared, but he knew down deep that he had to trust Blair now, or he would lose him forever. He stayed very still until he heard the door open again and Blair came upstairs. When he saw Blair, he was so surprised he lost his balance. He wobbled, but managed to right himself. Blair was wearing tight black leather pants and boots. Instead of a shirt, he was wearing a black leather X-harness with silver rings. He was holding a cardboard box. Jim could hear the items in the box rustling together.

Blair put the box on Jim’s dresser. As he reached to open it, he looked back over his shoulder at Jim. "Just keep those pretty blue eyes OFF what’s inside the box. Everything in it is supposed to be a surprise."

"Oh, it’s a surprise. That much is certain," Jim smirked.

Blair tilted his head and glared teasingly at Jim through narrowed eyes.
"Just for that!" He whipped something out of the box. It looked like it might be a whip. Jim flinched. Blair shook it out. It was leather harness similar to the one Blair wore. Only it had additional strips of leather. "It’s really soft, but if it irritates your skin, you have to tell me. I mean it, Jim. You are not allowed to do anything to hurt yourself. That’s my job," he winked and slid his hands along Jim’s slim waist and rubbed up against him. "Actually, the harness is for tomorrow. Isn’t it cool? Feel how soft the leather is."

"I think this’ll be just fine..." Jim murmured, caressing the narrow strips of black leather. He took a ragged breath. "So what’s up for today?"

Blair ignored the pun. He new it wasn’t intentional. He moved back to the box and removed another black leather item. "This is a male chastity belt," he said, holding it up for Jim to inspect. "It’s made of the same soft leather as the harness, suede lining and all. See - it has leg straps and 4 little clasps for locks so you can’t get out of it unless I say. And I got the biggest one they had, so it’ll fit right over the cock cage and this strap up the back will hold the butt plug in place. How is it, by the way? It’s a size up from yesterday’s and it sure looked big to me."

"It is big. But not big enough to really be uncomfortable. It just takes a little while to adjust. I bet tomorrow I can take the extra large one without a whimper."

"Yeah! Sure!" Blair shook his head in exasperation. "This isn’t a race, you know. The only reason I moved up a size now is ‘cause I have some other toys I want to try out over the next few days and I have to be sure you’re opened up enough to take it." He knelt and started fastening the chastity belt in place - around Jim’s waist and between his legs, confining his cock and balls and pressing the butt plug in a little deeper. Then around each thigh. Once all the buckles were comfortably tight - maybe a little too tight, he hooked the little padlocks into each clasp. He put the keys on the dresser behind him.

Satisfied, Blair looked up at Jim. "Now... for today’s torture. I gotta warn you, it’s gonna be rough. I am not gonna back down and you are not gonna back away. Period. Understood?"

Jim was shivering as he nodded.

"I need the words, Jim," Blair insisted. "I need you to let go of your fear and hurt and trust me to take care of you on the deepest level."

"I want to..." Jim whimpered. "I’m trying to." He was shaking, now.

Blair carefully pulled another strip of soft black leather out of the box. "Maybe this will help..." he said slowly. It was a collar. It was two and a half inches wide and had three bondo rings for attachments and two small hasps for a lock. Blair placed it in Jim’s hands. "Will you wear this for me?"

Jim stared helplessly at the thin leather strip that announced his slavery. Slavery he himself had claimed, even demanded, the day before. There was no decision to make. He raised his hands and fastened the collar snugly around his tensed neck. He held out his hand for the tiny lock and Blair handed it to him. With the key. Jim opened the lock and hooked it through the hasps, locking the collar securely in place. Then he solemnly knelt, head bowed, and presented the key to Blair. Blair took the key, kissed Jim’s hands, and took a small, elegant, carved box out one of the bags from the night before. Opening it, he pulled out a key ring with ‘Collar’ written on it. He put the key on it and put it back in the box. He took out another one with ‘Chastity Belt’ inscribed. After hooking each of the keys for the four Chastity Belt locks on it, he laid it back inside the little box and turned back to Jim.

Blair pulled the larger man up into his embrace. He pulled Jim’s face down to meet his own, and blue eyes looked deep into blue eyes.

"I love you, Jim. I will never leave you. And I will never, willfully, do anything to cause you harm. Ever."

Jim shifted suddenly. Those words imprinted on his very soul. Leaning hard against Blair as he let out a convulsive, ragged sob. Blair moved them so they could sit together on the bed and he held Jim as he wept. Blair constantly moved his hands in comforting strokes, all the while murmuring encouragement and sweet nothings like, "there, there, just let it all out, everything is gonna be ok, you’re safe, you’re safe with me, my love, just let the pain out, let it go, you’re safe."

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Much later, as Jim lay in the circle Blair’s arms, his head tucked into the crook of Blair’s neck, still sniffling, occasionally. He whispered, "I’m sorry I ruined your plans for today."

"You didn’t ruin anything, Jim," Blair replied with a sad smile. "This is exactly what I had planned for today. Of course, I thought we’d have to do an awful lot of talking to get here... You surprised me." He dropped a gentle kiss on Jim’s swollen nose. Then he tilted Jim’s head and kissed his mouth. A kiss filled with all the love in his heart, loving but not erotic. "Eventually we’re going to have to talk about those feelings you expressed today. But it doesn’t have to be now. It can be," Blair was quick to assure him, "but it doesn’t HAVE to be. You’re wrung out. You are entitled to an emotion break," Blair smiled.

Blair bounced up off the bed. "I think it’s time for some lunch."

Jim raised a hand to massage his temple.

"Headache?" Jim nodded slightly. "I’m not surprised after that cry. It’s perfectly normal, Jim. I’ll get you something for the pain." And he disappeared downstairs. Jim could hear him moving around in the kitchen. Their kitchen. It had been for years, really, but now it seemed more true somehow. It wasn’t long before Blair reappeared with a tray of food, water, and aspirin. "Willowbark tea tastes awful and aspirin is made from the same stuff - under all those chemicals - so I guess it’s okay. Come on Jim. You need to get some food in you. So do I, for that matter. Come on," he coaxed, waving half of a turkey sandwich in front of Jim’s nose.

Jim smiled weakly, took his aspirin and began to eat.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

It didn’t take Blair long to clean up the kitchen. He found Jim still huddled on the bed. "Head still hurting?"

"Yes, but it’s better."

Blair climbed into the bed and cuddled up to his sentinel. "Feel up to talking about what happened earlier?"

"If I say no, will you punish me for lying?"

"Would it be a lie?"

"I think so. My head isn’t hurting so much, now."

"Let me rephrase the question. Are you feeling both physically and emotionally ready to talk about it?"

"I'll never feel emotionally ready to talk about it, Chie- Master."

Blair smiled and stoked Jim’s chest. "You don’t have to call me Master, you know. I like Chief just fine. Besides, you can call me Chief anywhere without raising any eyebrows."

Jim smiled. "Okay, Chief... Here it is. We’ve been together as Sentinel and Guide for, what, about 3 years now? But somewhere in the back of my mind, I have always known that someday you would leave. Actually, I thought it would be yesterday, when I told you I wanted to make love with you. But you stayed. Miracle of Miracles, you wanted me, too. Truth is, I wasn’t sure about that right up until the moment I felt your cock inside me. I can’t begin to describe how good it felt. Your fingers stretching and pumping in me weren’t enough to convince this stubborn old man that you weren’t just toying with me, I guess."

Blair laughed. "Stubborn, I’ll give you, but OLD? Not a chance, man! Not a chance!"

Jim smiled a small sad smile before he continued.

"Then when you put me inside you, I couldn’t believe it! It was like a taste of heaven. But then the whole cock ring, butt plug, prostate thing... I thought I was going to die, honest, I did. I was sure you weren’t going to let me come again, so when you sucked me into your throat and swallowed me down to the base of my cock, I thought you were just torturing me. Blue Balls for Jim, all day and all night. No orgasms allowed. So when you pulled off the cock ring, I had no defenses. I was completely at your mercy.

"Then last night, I tasted you. I mean I really tasted YOU. It felt like I was bonding to you as my guide on a whole new level.

"But today... Today, you took my soul. I would say you stole it, but you had my consent. You offered me your love and your life. You promised you would never leave me.

"I’ve never had anyone I could truly count on before you, Blair. And there was always that fear at the back if my mind that kept me from letting you into my deepest self. Until now. Now I feel like I’ve been laid bare. You’re treading on the most vulnerable part of my Self. I am clinging to the promises you gave me like a man on a lifeboat.

"You said ‘I love you’ and I’m not going to let you take it back.

"Please don’t break your promises Chief... I really don’t think I could survive it."

"Tell me, Jim. I need to hear it, too," Blair said quietly.

Jim smiled gently. "I love you, Blair, I love you and I trust you. And I will be yours until the day I die. Will you be mine, too?"

Blair’s heart swelled with joy. "I am yours, Jim. The truth is, I have been yours since the day you first came into my office at Rainier, and tossed me against the wall. I was just afraid to tell you. I was afraid you would be disgusted or horrified or something that a man was in love with you... So I buried my feelings. I know you never had a clue, man. If you had, feeling the same way and all, you would have let me know. I guess that’s why it hurt so much when you warned Alex - even went to her. And after she killed me. How could you go to her after she killed me?"

"I don’t know... I don’t think either of us had a choice, really. It seemed all decided already, right from the first. I didn’t want to be with her. I wanted to be with you. I just couldn’t control it..."

"Oh, Jim, I know that. Really, I do! It just doesn’t help much where emotions are concerned. Mind and Heart seem to have trouble communicating," Blair said with a lopsided smile.

Jim continued to frown.

Blair slid his hand up to Jim’s face. "Forgive me? Please..."

Jim sighed. "Of course, I forgive you. You haven’t done anything wrong, though. I’m the one who needs to be forgiven. Can you forgive all the terrible things I’ve done to you?"

"Jim, I will happily forgive any and all wrongs you have done to me. I will not, however, allow you to take the blame for every bad thing that has happened to me since I met you. Of course, you can take credit for all the good stuff. And the good outweighs the bad by so much that the bad pales into insignificance.

"The good is you, Jim. You are all the good things in my life. You see, Jim, I own you. And it’s not temporary. You have given yourself to me and willingly locked my collar around your own neck. To me, that’s as serious a commitment as a wedding ring. In fact, I’d insist on us wearing rings, if I didn’t think that would be dangerous for you, as a cop. I have fully committed myself to you, Jim. There is only one reason that I could offer, make and accept that kind of commitment. And that reason is that I can, with complete and total honesty, give your own words back to you.

"You own me, heart... soul... and body."

Jim’s strong arms engulfed Blair’s small frame. "I love you," he whispered sincerely.

After a few minutes had passed, Jim looked at Blair quizzically. "Does this mean that eventually I’m gonna get to try all these toys out on you?"

"Oh, yeah..." Blair yawned. "Eventually. I’m even looking forward to it. But, I gotta warn you, Jim, it’s gonna be a while. Right now, I’m giving you what you want - need - in order to get past all the crap we’ve put each other through over the past 3 years."

*And that’s more important than my pleasure - or yours!*

"I know..." Jim murmured against his lover’s neck.

"Good," Blair smiled and snuggled into Jim’s embrace and fell almost instantly asleep. Moments later, Jim followed. He had had a really rough couple of days.

And it wasn’t over yet...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Something Strange Is In The Air

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter Four

Day 2 - Early Evening

When Blair woke, the sky was storm-darkened. He could hear the sounds of thunder and, occasionally, the room would light up as lightning flashed. Jim’s arms were still holding him close. He could hear, and feel, the occasional whimper in his breathing. He moved his hand slowly stroking from Jim’s hip up to his neck, feeling the presence of the chastity belt and then the Collar. His Collar. The thing that marked Jim as his very own. He took a long moment savoring the memory of Jim placing the collar on his own throat and then locking it there; the way he looked when he placed the key in Blair’s hands; giving Blair the right to keep him Collared forever, if he so chose. It sent a shiver up Blair’s spine.

Carefully, Blair went over in his mind all the things they had said to each other. There was still so much to work through. And Jim still believed he needed to be punished... *How am I going get him past that one? How much am I going to have to dish out before he feels worthy of his own forgiveness? And mine... This would all be a lot more fun if it was just for fun and love-play. NO! This will be a lot more fun when it’s all for fun and love-play. Gotta go in with the right attitude, Sandburg!*

Blair gently moved out of Jim’s embrace. Jim sat up, terror on his half-asleep face. "It’s ok, Jim. I’m just going down to put dinner on. We slept all afternoon." Blair smiled that sad ‘if only I could fix it’ smile and kissed Jim soundly. "Go on back to sleep, love." Jim hesitated. "You’ll be able to hear me messing around in the kitchen," Blair assured him. Jim lay back down and closed his eyes.

Blair decided that frozen homemade soup was just the thing. Along with a frozen casserole. It was in an aluminum tin, so he put it directly into the oven. He took out some soup for tomorrow as well. He put the soup on the stove and turned the heat on low. In a couple of hours it would all be steaming hot and ready to enjoy.

He continued to mull over the things Jim had told him. Suddenly it hit him. The thing that had been worrying him. Jim had actually believed Blair was toying with his emotions and his body. He thought Blair was capable of inflicting that kind of pain and degradation on him - and out of spite and a need for revenge. He thought Blair was the kind of person who needed - wanted - to hurt back when he had been hurt. *It’s only natural, I suppose. That is the kind of emotional vengeance he had to deal with at home as a kid. Well, not the sex part - unless there’s a lot he left out. But I really thought he knew me better than that... Maybe it was just emotional overload. He had been holding his true feelings in for a long time... Oh, man, I hope that’s what it was. I really hope I’m not that much of stranger to him...* Blair’s heart was hurting with the effort not to believe the worst. The effort to not break.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Above, in the bedroom, Jim moaned. He tossed and turned and cried out. Blair was beside him almost as soon as he heard the first nightmarish moan. He hadn’t realized he could move that fast. He pulled Jim into his arms and called his name. Trying to bring someone out of night terrors could be a tricky business. Jim needed to wake up in a safe environment. He needed Blair.

Blair stroked Jim’s face and arms as he spoke firmly.

"Jim! Come on, Jim. Wake up!" He shook his lover gently. "You need to wake up, now, Jim! You’re having a nightmare! Jim! Wake up, love!" He shook Jim harder. "JIM! WAKE UP!" he finally shouted.

Jim jumped in Blair’s embrace, startled awake from the horror of his dream. "Blair?" he whispered. "Is it really you?"

"It’s me, Jim," Blair soothed. "I’m here, love."

Jim clung to Blair. "You were gone! I couldn’t... You wouldn’t stay! I wanted you to stay, but you left me! I tried to stop you, but you walked right through me - like I was made of smoke. I couldn’t even touch you. When I tried, my hands just disappeared until I stopped trying..." Jim was sobbing now. He had a bruising hold on Blair, but Blair just held on tight and didn’t mention the pain.

He murmured his words softly into Jim’s ear. "I’m here, Jim. I didn’t leave and I’m not going to. Not ever." He gently raised Jim’s fingertips to the collar he wore. "Remember? You belong to me. And I belong to you. Nobody leaves! Okay?"

As Jim’s sensitive fingers took in the texture of the soft leather collar, his breathing stilled. "You love me," he said in wonder.

"Breathe, Jim," Blair smiled. "Yes, I love you. I don’t have words to describe how much. You are a part of me. I suppose that comes close..." Blair sighed, smiling. "What do you say we see if we can make that literal?"

Jim looked at him, the question in his eyes.

"Like this, silly," Blair laughed and kissed him. Then he kissed him again, deeply, as his hand wandered down to the chastity belt. "Gonna have to do something about that, I suppose," he whispered.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The key box was easy access, but it still took several minutes to open all the locks and unbuckle the belt. That left Blair with additional difficulties; the strips of leather and seven metal rings surrounding Jim’s cock and balls as well as the butt plug. Jim’s cock was already stirring under Blair’s patient hands. That didn’t bode well for easy removal of the cock cage, but it made Blair smile, all the same. Blair unbuckled the leather straps and carefully slipped Jim’s balls through the largest metal ring, freeing them, as Jim winced. Then he tried to slide the rest of the rings - the ones circling Jim’s stiffening cock - off, but Jim was already too hard. Jim gritted his teeth against the pain, but the rings wouldn’t budge. Blair grabbed the lube from the night table. Quickly, he covered the rings and Jim’s cock with lube, trying not to get Jim any harder, but Blair’s touch was just too much. Jim drew in a sharp breath and grunted in pain. Blair let go. He decided to try something else.

"See, Jim. I told you that cock cage was called ‘gates of hell’ for a reason," he quipped, trying to ease Jim’s mind. Blair took hold of the base of the butt plug and moved it slightly and then turned it back and forth a little to loosen it from Jim’s skin. Then he jumped off the bed and pulled a large, thick (and soft) towel out. He made Jim stand while he spread it lengthwise across the bed. Then he had Jim lay back down on his side, his back to Blair. Blair got a couple of smaller fingertip towels out of the box, and lay one beneath the butt plug. He gave Jim no further warning. With a steady pull, he removed the butt plug from Jim’s ass. It didn’t really hurt, but it did cause Jim to groan in discomfort. Taking quick advantage of the momentary lapse in Jim’s arousal, Blair slid the cock cage off with his other hand. He used the second towel to wipe Jim clean, then he wrapped the toys in it and set it aside.

Blair wrapped his arms around Jim and pulled him into a deep, satisfying kiss. With one hand around Jim’s neck, touching the collar, and his lips brushing Jim’s, he said, "This stays! It doesn’t come off until you know it’s there even when you aren’t wearing it!" Blair’s tone was harsh and demanding, but his touch was feather soft as he traced the contours of Jim’s chest. "Except for in the shower, of course."

Jim smiled.

"Speaking of which..." Blair dangled the collar key with a grin and waggled his eyebrows at Jim. Jim stood and moved toward him. "Bring the toys in the towel, Jim. They have to be cleaned." Blair said as he dashed downstairs. He stopped to check the food, and then headed to meet Jim in the bathroom. Jim was running the shower, setting the temperature. Blair unlocked the collar and kissed Jim’s neck, rubbing gently where the leather touched his skin. "Go ahead and get in whenever you’re ready, love," he murmured under his breath. "I’ll join you in a minute."

Blair thoroughly cleaned the toys and set them aside to dry. Then he turned to look at Jim, he was standing under the stream of hot water, steam rising as Jim stretched sensuously as the water flowed down the hard planes of his chest. Jim rolled his neck, allowing the heat to beat down on his muscles as he turned. He raised his eyes slightly to meet Blair’s. Jim’s expression was full of love and a sinfully delicious invitation. In a low, sexy voice, he said, "Come on in. The water’s fine."

Laughing, Blair joined Jim in the shower.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The shower provided lovely opportunities for sensual play. They scrubbed each others backs and each took care to leave no portion of the other’s anatomy unexplored. The soft scent of the soap was gentle on Jim’s senses. The touch of Blair’s soapy hands caressing his body was divine. Not to mention his mouth. Oh, what a way he had with that lovely mouth. Jim supposed the exercise it got from all that talking was amazingly useful.

Then it was Jim’s turn. He had the extreme pleasure of finally being able to take his fill of Blair’s beautiful curls. He washed Blair’s hair slowly, reveling in the sensuality of it. Massaging his head with care and making certain no speck of shampoo remained before he carefully applied conditioner, gently covering the ends first and working the excess up toward the roots. He had never had the opportunity to do this with such thick, luxurious curls and he spend a long time at it, slowly, repeatedly running his hands and strong fingers through Blair’s hair and around his scalp.

When he was finally finished, Blair turned and kissed him - long, slow, gentle - with all the love in his heart. He smiled softly. "I never knew you liked my hair so much." Blair’s voice sounded shy as he added, "It felt like you were almost worshiping it."

"Maybe I was. I’ve wanted to be free to run my hands through those curls of yours for a long time, now. I guess I wanted to try to tame them or something," Jim whispered.

Blair grinned. "Impossible," he insisted, shaking his head. "I’ve been training them for years to be wild and uncontrollable!"

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

After drying each other off with big fluffy towels, Blair pulled out a bottle of deep hydrating hypo-allergenic body lotion and carefully massaged it into every inch of Jim’s drying skin. Then he handed the bottle to Jim with a wicked little grin. Blair’s gentle massage had Jim hard as a rock. It seemed only right to return the favor. Jim bit his lower lip lightly and started to massage.

When he was finished, he was painfully aroused, but he was pleased to note that Blair was facing the same dilemma. Blair smiled, slow and sexy. He dropped to his knees on the plush floormat and took Jim’s aching arousal into his eager mouth. He teased with his lips and tongue, just as he had earlier in the shower. Jim moaned his pleasure. Blair nibbled and nipped. Jim growled. Blair sucked deep and swallowed until Jim was buried deep in his throat. Jim grabbed Blair’s shoulders, unsteady on his feet. Blair moved back, releasing Jim’s still hard cock. Jim groaned. Blair put the toilet seat cover down and pushed Jim onto it. Then, kneeling between Jim’s legs, he smiled up at him. Jim’s face was constricted with arousal, his eyes closed tight as he tried desperately not to come without permission. "Love you," Blair whispered. He engulfed Jim’s cock, pulling it easily back down his throat and working his muscles around it. Jim looked down at his lovers head, damp curls bobbing between his legs and he couldn’t resist threading his hands through those curls. Blair raised his eyes to meet Jim’s and gently squeezed his balls. Jim came hard.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

They made their way slowly into the living room. Jim kept reaching over and running his fingers carefully through Blair’s damp curls. Blair pressed into Jim’s hand like a puppy yearning for pets. He hadn’t allowed Jim to take care of his arousal. He was actually savoring it. Waiting...

Blair flicked the remote. A game was just coming on. They watched, cuddled on the sofa, just enjoying each others embrace as their skin dried to a silky softness.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Dinner was a nice addition to the game. Blair limited their beer intake, but took care to make sure Jim got plenty of water and tea. Otherwise, they followed their usual patterns as if they were fully clothed, shouting, complaining about bad calls, and generally being the insane sports fans that they were. Except for the lack of clothing and Blair’s obvious arousal, it could have been any other night.

But the half-time entertainment; now, that was a new experience for both of them. They had never made love during a game, before.

As half-time began, Blair raised his shining eyes to meet Jim’s and begged, "Suck me off... I want to feel your mouth on me."

Jim’s eyes went all soft as he whispered, "As you wish, my love."

Jim moved to kneel on the floor between Blair’s knees.

"WAIT!" Blair panicked.

"What?" Jim demanded, alarmed.

"You need to put a pillow down to kneel on so you don’t hurt your knees!"

Jim laughed and kissed Blair hard, but he obediently got a cushion to kneel on. Then he began to kiss and caress Blair’s highly aroused cock. It didn’t take long for them both to realize that he wouldn’t last long at all after waiting since their shower.

"It’s okay. I want you to make me come, Jim! Then suck me off again, 'til I’m hard and then I want to come inside you." Blair somehow managed to get the words out, even in his state.

*Unbelievable!* Jim thought in amused wonder. His laughter rumbled deep in his throat and that sent Blair straight over the edge. Jim swallowed every drop and then carefully lapped his lover clean, keeping his task in mind. It really didn’t take nearly as long as he expected. Blair was too turned on by his presence, much less his touch, and this was, in a sense, their honeymoon...

Once he was hard and ready, Jim rolled a condom over Blair’s thick cock. It wasn’t a long as Jim’s well proportioned cock, but it was thicker and it certainly wasn’t short. *He’s perfect!* Jim thought as he spread the slick lube over his lover.

Blair was sprawled back on the sofa, totally relaxed and delighting in Jim’s careful handling. He could almost imagine their roles were reversed and Jim was lovingly dominating him. He wasn’t used to Jim being submissive. It was fun for a while, he supposed, but sooner or later, Jim would go back to his natural state - Alpha Male. Blair smiled contentedly at the thought. He liked it when Jim went all Tarzan on him. Like when he shoved Blair up against his office wall that first day. If Jim hadn’t been so distracted, he would have sensed - smelled or saw or felt - Blair’s arousal.

Blair moaned softly. Jim leaned in an kissed him, a bare brush of the lips. Blair whimpered. Jim smiled - a slow sensual smile. It was obvious Blair wanted him to control this encounter. Jim reached back and used his fingers to stretch and lube himself, while Blair watched avidly. Then, Jim pulled Blair down to the floor against the sofa, propping his back against more cushions.

Jim straddled Blair’s hips and lowered himself, very slowly, onto Blair’s cock. Blair’s breathing became more rapid. He made a conscious effort to control it. "Jim?" he whispered. "Do you like doing this?"

Jim didn’t speak. He purred his pleasure.

Blair smiled. "I’m all yours," he whispered. "Why don’t you turn your senses up a bit?"

"Can’t," Jim grunted. "I can barely control them now."

"That’s nice," Blair murmured in a satisfied tone. "Love you."

Jim’s eyes bored into Blair’s, smoldering like blue flame, as he completed their joining. Once Blair was deep inside him, he felt whole. He didn’t move; he just looked at Blair with love and lust in his eyes.

Blair reached up languidly to stroke Jim’s face. He seemed almost in a trance. "You’re so beautiful... I need you to know how beautiful you are to me. You’re everything I ever dreamed of. I feel safe with you, even when I know I’m not. You do that for me, Jim. You make me feel protected." Blair laughed under his breath at the beauty of the thought. "I didn’t really understand it when I called you my Blessed Protector that first time, but I do understand now. I feel lost without you. The only place I feel truly safe is by your side." He laughed softly. "Even in a fire fight, if I’m with you, I feel safe. I know I’m not, but it doesn’t change the way I feel. The safety I feel with you isn’t about the physical. It’s about you being my safe place. I love you doesn’t even cover it, Jim. It isn’t enough to express what I feel for you."

"Bla-air!" Jim groaned.

Blair was pinned, but with a mischievous smile, he wiggled his hips and grabbed Jim’s cock.

Jim groaned incoherently. He started to move.

Blair started pumping Jim’s cock with both hands. But as the feel of Jim moving on him took over, Blair’s hands slowed to a stop and he threw his head back on the sofa cushions and simply writhed in ecstasy.

Jim covered Blair’s still hands with his one of own and started to move faster. He wrapped the other hand in Blair’s riotous curls and pulled him in for a deep, hard kiss that went on and on.

While they kissed, Blair squeezed Jim’s cock gently and started pumping again. Jim stroked up Blair’s body. He slipped his strong arm around Blair’s back and held him close as he came, shooting up between their bodies. His muscles contracted around Blair’s cock, sending Blair over the edge as well.

They didn’t move at first. They just held each other.

Finally, they separated and began to clean up. That was when they realized the game had resumed without them. Laughing, they rearranged themselves and went back to watching the TV.

"They scored and we missed it!" Blair said, feigning frustration.

"That’s ok," Jim responded easily. "We scored, too. And they missed it."

Blair laughed. Jim tickled him. Blair’s laughter turned to giggles and shrieks as he tried, unsuccessfully, to wriggle away. He didn’t try very hard.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

When the game came to an end, Jim looked shyly over at Blair and said, "I think I’m completely dry now."

"Looks like we both are," Blair agreed, waiting.

"Isn’t it time to put my collar back on?" Jim asked trying not to sound hopeful.

Blair’s face lit up. "I was waiting for you to ask for it," he confided, nuzzling Jim’s neck.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Once Jim had the collar locked securely around his neck, Blair spoke. "We need to talk about some of the things you said earlier, Jim. We need to work through some of those feelings. An issue was raised for me, as well. I’d like to start there. I think it’s vitally important that we resolve any trust issues between us."

"Okay. What’s the trust issue?" Jim asked.

"You thought I was just messing with your head?" Blair said seriously. "In the mental sense, I mean," he smiled halfheartedly.

"Not entirely..." Jim paused. "I just couldn’t believe you really wanted me. Especially after everything... and Alex... I suppose I just felt like I deserved to be treated like that - you know - after everything you’ve gone through because of me, I just deserve it... Turnabout’s fair play, and all."

Tears came to Blair's eyes, but he blinked them back. He was so relieved that that was all it was - that it was about feelings he was already aware of. But Jim didn’t need to be comforting him right now. Now was for Jim. The tears were, in a sense, for Jim, too, but Jim wouldn’t see them that way.

With a deep breath, Blair said, "I know you feel that way. And I am going to help you work through that. Right now, you need to know how I feel. And you need to know that, regardless of the validity of the emotions that brought you to that conclusion, the conclusion, itself, is faulty. It is not true, Jim. You do not deserve to be treated like that. You have never treated anyone with that kind of blatant disregard and you never will. It is simply isn’t in your nature! So turnabout doesn’t even enter into it! You are, by nature, a protector - and you are my Blessed Protector. Nothing that has ever happened to me in the course of our work together has been your fault! I’ve lost count of the number of times you’ve come to my rescue. The number of times you’ve saved my life. Not least of which was at the fountain! You literally called me back from death, Jim. You are, in the purest sense, my hero. Do you get that? Can you feel how deep this bond between us goes? I can. I know you. I’ve been observing you for 3 years. I know your faults and your strengths and your charming and annoying idiosyncrasies. I know you. And I love you. I think maybe it’s time you got to know me... I thought you did."

Jim’s blue eyes filled with tears. "Chief, knowing you is the reason I had doubts. If I didn’t know you so well, I would have believed it completely. I was just so convinced that you could never want me... and that I deserved to be rejected." The tears began to roll down Jim’s tormented face. He was still afraid he would be rejected. "Do you realize that the very first place you touched me was my anus? You didn’t caress me or kiss me until after that. I was afraid it was because you didn’t want to. I couldn’t believe you did want me and I couldn’t believe you weren’t going to reject me. The reason for that is that I do know you. And I know I don’t deserve you. You are the kindest, truest, most genuine and centered person I have ever known. But it doesn’t matter anymore whether I deserve you or not. I’m keeping you. You gave me this collar and you said you were mine - that you would never leave me! Well, I’m holding you to your word! You can’t back out now!" Jim demanded acquiescence.

Blair could hear the panicked undertones in the demand, though. He could hear and understand emotional signals as well as Jim could hear distant sounds. Quietly, he gave Jim the answers he needed.

"Jim, I have wanted to make love with you for so long that when I finally got the chance to, I just couldn’t wait any longer. If I had taken time to kiss and caress you it would have been over before it started. I knew you were as aroused as I was so I wasn’t worried about whether or not you would enjoy it. I do wonder how you missed it, yourself. Knowing how aroused I was, I mean. I thought you would be able to smell my arousal. Then again, you were coming back from a zone," Blair added thoughtfully.

"You talk about how centered I am... Do you know why I’m so centered, Jim? I wasn’t always, you know. I was driven, but not centered. Do you remember Naomi saying I seemed happy and at peace? She knew the difference, Jim. Anyone who knew me before I met you sees the difference. You don’t. You can’t, because you are the difference. You are my center, Jim. Without you, I would still be drifting along like I always did before I met you.

"You are my rock. I can always count on you to be there when I need you, Jim. Even when you don’t want to be. You tried to get away from me when I didn’t tell you about Alex, but you were right there when I needed you, all the same. Just like always. You said you had never had anyone you could count on before. It’s the same for me, Jim. Oh, Naomi was a great mother. She always protected me as a kid. She would have dropped (in the literal sense) anybody who tried to hurt me. If I had a problem with one of her boyfriends, she was always sensitive to that. But, in a way, I was always alone. And then, going off to college at only sixteen... Talk about not fitting in. I had to rely on myself. I did a lot of traveling around, joining digs or studies for the experience. That’s why it’s taken me so long to get this far. I wanted the broadest educational experience I could get in my field. I didn’t know why or what I was looking for."

Blair smiled and looked lovingly into Jim’s teary eyes. "In case you haven’t noticed, I’ve stopped looking. I found you. I’m not going anywhere that you’re not. You’re stuck with me, James Joseph Ellison. And I’m not the only one who isn’t allowed to change his mind!"

Jim slid his hand into Blair’s hair and roughly pulled Blair’s mouth to meet his in a hard, possessive kiss. Then, without releasing those silky curls, Jim murmured, "Nobody leaves, Blair. Ever."

Blair smiled and kissed Jim hard. "Never leaving, love."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Something Strange Is In The Air

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter Five

Day 3 - Early Morning

Jim’s innate sensuality teased Blair throughout their leisurely breakfast. He wasn’t doing it on purpose. At least Blair didn’t think he was. They were simply sharing little caresses and tender kisses. It seemed natural to both of them to touch whenever the opportunity presented itself. After they finished the dishes, Jim drew Blair into his arms and kissed him thoroughly. When Jim released the smaller man, his knees were shaking and Jim could feel his arousal against his leg. Glancing down, he smiled as he saw the expression on Blair’s beautiful face.

Blair, his eyes bright, let his silk robe drop to the floor. He couldn’t wait any longer. Gesturing to his fully erect cock, he asked Jim, "What do you want to do about this?"

"Whatever you wish, Master, uh, Chief."

Blair smiled and chuckled softly. "Good answer, but I asked what you want to do. Take advantage of it. It’s not going to happen very often - at least not for a while."

Jim looked down at his toes and smiled. "I want you inside me," he whispered. He raised his face to Blair’s, his blue eyes burning with lust. "I need to feel you inside me. I need you to possess me totally."

Blair melted inside, but he tried to act nonchalant. "I think that can be arranged," he said, his eyes twinkled with pleasure behind the possessive gleam. Grabbing Jim’s shoulders, he pulled him roughly into his embrace and kissed him long and hard. Then, gentling his touch, he caressed Jim’s mouth with his own in a tender, sweet, lust-filled expression of love. "How do you want me, Jim? Hard and fast? Slow and gentle? Somewhere in-between?"

"I don’t know," Jim moaned into Blair’s mouth. "Just possess me! Make me know I’m yours all the way down to my soul. Just own me, Chief, just own me."

Blair fingered the soft leather collar as he contemplated his next move. "I do," he said softly.

Jim moaned.

"I know how long it’s been since you were with Incacha. And I have a pretty good idea about your recent experiences with women. But you aren’t exactly one to share your medical exams. Have you been tested?"

"Yes. Every year along with my annual exam. I always check with my partners, too."

"Except Alex." Blair’s voice was dry - emotionless.

"No. Not her." Jim pulled Blair closer. "But I didn’t actually have sex with her. Only in the vision. She wanted to do the ritual first. Then she was zoned... They tested her when they checked her into the hospital in Sierra Verde. Since everyone thought I slept with her they told me. Wouldn’t have happened here in The States, of course, but they have different rules there. She didn’t have anything. So even if I had slept with her - which I didn’t - I would be okay."

"You really didn’t sleep with her?" Blair asked hopefully.

Jim smiled sadly. "No, chief, I really didn’t sleep with her," he said firmly.

Blair moved his head against Jim’s chest wishing he could get closer. "That was the worst, you know? Thinking you just up and hopped into the sack with the woman who killed me... That hurt, man."

Jim’s eyes filled with tears. "I am so sorry, Chief."

Blair looked up. Love shining in his eyes, he kissed the tears away. "It’s okay, Jim. It’s over. Past. Done. I love you and you love me and we don’t have to hang onto that stuff anymore. We’re together!" Jim sobbed, trying to hold it in. "It’s okay, man, let it out. You’re in your safe place here, with me to hold you." Blair held Jim close and stroked his back as he wept.

When he was calm again, Blair continued. "I asked these questions for a reason, Jim. I’m clean, too. I haven’t been with a guy since I turned twenty. Haven’t wanted to - except with you - and I couldn’t have you. I’ve always been careful and I’ve kept my medical testing up to date. I want to do something with you that I’ve never done before with any partner, male or female. I want to make love to you. Without anything between us. No condom. Just us. Are you okay with that? If you aren’t, say so! I don’t want to do anything to make you uncomfortable with us. And I don’t want to do anything to make you worry. You’re stressed enough, Jim. So you’ve gotta be totally honest about how you feel, here! No tough guy nonsense and no ‘whatever you want, Chief’, ‘cause if you say yes to this and then get all worried and upset about it later, I’m gonna be really pissed off. Got it?"

"Yeah," Jim laughed quietly. "I got it. And I want it, Blair. I want you. Inside me. No condom. Just us. Plain enough?"

"And you won’t stress about this later?"

"No, Chief. I know you wouldn’t lie to me. And I hope you know I’m being honest with you, as well. We just keep up the testing for the next couple of years; stay completely monogamous and we’ll be fine. No stress required." Jim was accepting this much too easily for Blair’s peace of mind.

"Ok. Now I’m stressed. That was just too easy."

"Why?" Jim asked sincerely. "I trust you."

Blair melted, and this time he couldn’t keep it from showing. "Oh, Jim. That’s... That’s..." Blair hugged him close, fighting back tears. "Aw, hell! I don’t have the words!"

Jim was stunned. "You mean... you’re... speechless?"

"Uh-huh!" Blair sobbed.

Jim held him tight, stroking his hair. "Well," he said teasingly, "this is definitely a moment to remember." He kissed Blair's tears away and then joined their lips in a tender, reassuring kiss. "I love you, Chief," he added, eyes shining.

Blair smiled back. He knew what to do, now. He pushed Jim gently to the sofa, rolled the TV back toward the wall, and went into the spare room. He returned with a comforter and spread it across the living room floor. Kneeling on the softness, he beckoned to Jim, "Come."

Jim paused and grabbed just the lube out of the box, leaving the condoms behind. Kneeling in front of Blair, he handed it to him. Blair smiled and set it down, just off to the side.

"So... tell me about this guy when you were twenty..." Jim tried to sound like it didn’t matter, but it did. It mattered a lot.

"It wasn’t anything real. Not like you and Incacha. Or you and me. I was interested from a purely physical perspective. I found him attractive and went with it. I have had a grand total of three male lovers in my entire life. And I have only loved one of them." Jim tried to hide the hurt, but he wasn’t successful. Blair could read him too well. "What? You wanted me to love someone else?" Jim looked confused. Blair chucked, softly. "You, Jim. You are the third male lover I have ever had, and the only man I have ever loved." Jim grinned. "Happy, now?"

"Oh, yeah! I’m happy, now. So, are you gonna make love to me, or what?"

"Or what," Blair said easily. "I’m going to possess you. Got a problem with that, love?"

Jim sighed happily. "Not at all, Chief. Not at all!" And he relaxed trustingly into Blair’s arms.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

After a few minutes of cuddling, Blair jumped up to collect a few more items. When he came back downstairs, Jim could hear water running in the bathroom. Blair brought a couple of plush, thick towels in and lay one, doubled, near the center of the comforter. Then he ordered Jim to lay down on his side with the towel under his hips. He got a pillow for Jim’s head. It was important that Jim be as comfortable as possible for what Blair had planned.

Blair knelt beside him and carefully lubed the medium butt plug with the silicon based lube - non-sticky, long-lasting and safe for all non-silicon toys.

"Uh, Chief?"

"Yes, Jim?"

"Did you, uh, leave the water running in the bathroom on purpose?" Jim asked hesitantly.

"Why yes, Jim, I did," Blair said easily as he continued his task.

"Ok..." Jim lowered his head back to the pillow.

"Should be ready, now," Blair said, setting the lubed plug on the coffee table and started to get up, then a glance at Jim’s face stopped him. "You look worried."

"I think I know what you have in mind."

"Does it scare you?" Blair asked, concerned.

"No, not scare, exactly. I’ve just never done it before."

"Just to be sure we’re on the same page - Never done what?"

"I’ve never had an erotic enema. In fact, I’m not sure I ever had any kind of enema. I can’t say for sure ‘cause there are still some blank spots in my memory. That is what you’re planning to do, isn’t it?"

Blair stroked his face tenderly, as a truly goofy look came over his face. "Gee, Jim, you got all that from a towel and running water? No wonder they made you a detective!" Blair gushed.

Jim laughed. He pulled Blair down into a passionate kiss. "Just be gentle with me, okay?"

"Always," Blair answered, seriously. Then he grinned. "Unless you want it rough, of course!" He jumped up and ran to the bathroom. The water was just the right temperature. Very warm, but not too hot. He filled the "Glow-In-The-Dark Anal Douche" carefully and turned the water off. Jim was going to be so amazed.

Returning to his lover’s side, he allowed a droplet of the warm water to fall onto the inside of Jim’s forearm so Jim could feel the warmth - get a measure of the temperature. Wouldn’t want to shock the senses, after all. Jim sighed, but his expression revealed his worry. Blair kissed him. "It’ll be alright, love," he whispered. "Pull your knees up a bit." When Jim had complied, Blair continued, "Are you ready?"

Jim nodded. He was still uneasy, but he trusted Blair.

Very carefully, Blair inserted the narrow nozzle. Once it was in place, he placed one hand reassuringly on Jim’s hip and started to gently squeeze the bulb causing the warm water to flow slowly into Jim’s body. Jim shuddered. Blair stopped squeezing. "You okay?" he asked quietly. "Do I need to stop?"

"No," Jim said firmly. "I just didn’t know what to expect. It actually feels kind of nice."

Blair smiled happily at his lover and stroked his hand down Jim’s stomach to tease the sensitive skin at the edge of his pubic hair. Jim shuddered again, but this time Blair was watching his face and saw his pleasure.

He started squeezing again. This time he didn’t stop until all the water was inside Jim’s bowels. Then he slowly removed the nozzle and set the douche on the table. Then he took the lubed butt plug from the table. Jim whimpered softly as Blair inserted the plug. "Okay?" Blair asked. Jim nodded but he had a questioning look on his handsome face. Blair quickly reassured him. "With the plug, you won’t have to work so hard to hold the water in."

"Okay. How long?"

Blair got up and said, "At least fifteen minutes, love, but longer if you can do it."

Blair left Jim’s side and Jim whimpered at his absence. When Blair didn’t return immediately, he felt abandoned. He told himself Blair wasn’t really gone and he would keep his promises. He stared at the clock. It was only about two minutes until Blair returned. Jim sighed his relief.

Blair lay another doubled towel on the floor beside Jim’s head. He put a pillow down as well and fluffed it. He lubed another butt plug and set it on the coffee table where Jim could reach it. then he turned to Jim, handed him a second anal douche and lay down in position. Jim was stunned. Blair was impatient. "What are you waiting for? It’s your turn to do the honors," he grinned.

Jim smiled and repeated the steps Blair had taken with him. He was amazed at how thrilling it was to be allowed to do this. He was honored that Blair trusted him so much. He smiled happily when Blair moaned in pleasure as the plug went in. Blair didn’t stay still, though. When did he ever? He moved his pillow so that it was even with Jim’s hips and his own hips, still on the towel, were near Jim’s head. Jim saw visions of the number sixty-nine dancing though his head. *Wow!* he thought as he took full advantage of the situation. Blair did the same and it was suddenly very difficult to concentrate on the task at hand.

Blair, on the other hand, had no difficulty keeping his mind on his work. He was a man on a mission. He wanted to see how fast he could make Jim come.

It didn’t take long. Jim couldn’t concentrate. He gave up trying to and released Blair’s cock. Blair giggled. Jim knew he shouldn’t be able to tell Blair was giggling, since the man had Jim’s cock buried to the root in his throat, but he could tell. His enhanced sense of touch enabled him to feel the slight shuddering of Blair’s throat muscles around his cock. The man had giggled. He was amused that Jim had been unable to concentrate. That left Jim feeling a bit, well, delighted. Blair wanted Jim’s pleasure. So he gave it to him.

"Blair!" he managed to gasp out in warning just before he came.

Blair loved it. He swallowed every drop and lapped Jim clean. When Blair started to move away, Jim grabbed his hips and pulled him toward his mouth. He wasn’t about to let Blair get away with that. It was definitely his turn. Blair was close. Loving Jim had aroused him all by itself. He loved the feel of Jim’s mouth on him, around him. Jim knew this because Blair told him. In fact, he talked to Jim the whole time Jim’s mouth was working it’s magic. Jim was impressed. In Blair’s position, he had been hard put to come up with one coherent thought. Blair even talked when he came. He kept saying, "Oh Jim! So good!" over and over again. When he came back down, Blair turned around to kiss Jim’s swollen lips. They held each other for a few minutes.

When Jim’s enema had been in for about twenty minutes he began to cramp slightly. Blair carefully stood and helped Jim to his feet. He led him into the bathroom and had him stand over the toilet. Then he gently - slowly - removed the butt plug. He helped Jim sit and let him expel the water. Then Blair left the bathroom. Jim sat on the toilet for several minutes to be sure it was all expelled. Then he washed up.

When Jim exited the bathroom, Blair smiled and turned to go in. "Need my help?" Jim asked.

"I can do it," Blair answered, but at the crestfallen look in Jim’s eyes, he added, "but if you really want to help me, you can. I’ve just never had help with this before. I always had to do it by myself. You are the first lover I’ve had who wanted to help. Even with the first part... Of course, it’s not like I have vast experience with men."

Jim smiled softly and pulled Blair into his arms and kissed him. "I love you," he said simply.

Blair put his arms around Jim’s waist and clung to him. "I love you, too."

Blair pulled away and walked into the bathroom. He stood over the toilet and let Jim remove the plug. Jim stayed and stroked Blair’s hair until he was finished. Then he helped Blair wash himself clean. Together they headed back into the living room.

Blair gathered the towels and tossed them aside. He rearranged the pillows so they were in easy reach, but not in the way. He had prepared the rest earlier. Everything was ready.

Jim was standing off to the side of the comforter watching him. Blair picked up something from the table, and hiding it in his hand, he walked over and slipped his arms around Jim’s waist and sank into his embrace. Jim’s strength was such a comfort. He loved the hardness of his chest and arms, the smoothness of his skin, the feel of his breath against Blair’s skin. Under his breath, Blair murmured, "safe..." Jim heard and he tightened his arms around his lover.

Blair looked up at Jim and smiled softly, lips parted. "I need to have it be just us now," he whispered as he raised his hand to show Jim the hidden key. He unlocked the collar, massaging Jim’s neck as he removed it. He tossed the collar and the key into the box on the table. "We’ll put it back on later. For now, though... Just us..." He pressed his head to Jim’s chest and held him tight.

Jim could still feel the collar. The bond it signified was still there, even if the collar wasn’t. Dropping a kiss on the top of Blair’s head and running strong fingers through his hair, Jim held Blair close and whispered words of love. Words weren’t easy for Jim, but he knew Blair. Blair needed the words. One hand kept busy with those unruly curls and the other caressed the small of Blair’s back while his mind struggled for the right words to express his emotions. *He’s exactly what I need to make me happy... for the rest of my life,* Jim’s thoughts encompassed the physical and the emotional. He fervently hoped Blair felt the same.

"Blair, Chief, I’m not good at this, so I hope you’ll take it as it’s meant, even if it comes out wrong. I love you so much and I want to try to say this the right way."

He paused a moment, gathering his thoughts. Blair waited patiently.

Finally, Jim spoke.

"I can’t imagine my life without you in it. Every day. Every night. I need you in my life, in my arms, in my bed. You are the reason I wake up in the mornings, the reason I go to work and the reason I smile. I didn’t smile much before I met you, Chief. I just did my job and tried to make a difference. But you are the difference. I see you and how you look at the world - refusing to believe that people are not basically good in spite of the things you have seen and the sheer number of times someone has wanted or even tried to kill you. Or worse. You see the world in a way I have never seen it. You see good or the potential for good everywhere you look. I’m too much of a cynic, I guess. I tend to see and expect the worst. And I usually get it. You help me to see the brighter side. I need that. Desperately. I need you. You helped me make peace with the past. Something I would never have done on my own. You give me hope and strength and love. I need your love, Blair. I need you. You are my safe place."

Blair looked up at Jim through teary eyes and smiled brilliantly. "Oh, Jim," he said softly, "you said it exactly right, love. Exactly right."

Jim’s eyes lit up as he smiled down at Blair with all the love in his heart.

Blair pulled back a little, gazing up pensively at Jim’s shining face. "I want you."

Jim chucked and released Blair and lay back down on the comforter. "Oh, alright," he sighed with false exasperation. "You’re so horny. Don’t you ever get enough?"

"Is that a complaint?"

"Hell no!"

Blair laughed happily as he went to the box and started going through it, looking for something.

Jim got a little boy lost look on his face as he watched.

"What?" Blair asked.

"It’s just, I thought it was going to be now... You know... You - Me - No condom between us."

"Yes, it is," Blair answered in frustration. He went back to digging through the toy box before continuing. "I just can’t find the lube."

"Chief?"

Blair looked up at Jim. "Hmm?"

Jim held up the bottle and smiled that amazing smile of his. The one that made Blair want to kiss him senseless. So he did.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Jim wrapped his arms around the energetic bundle that pounced on him and returned his kiss with enthusiasm. Jim was happy. He couldn’t remember feeling truly happy and at peace before Blair. It still seemed a little dream-like. As the kiss continued and deepened, Jim’s senses spiraled upward until the feel of Blair’s touch excluded everything else. He could feel the texture of Blair’s tongue rubbing against his own. He could feel the individual hairs on Blair’s chest and legs as the smaller man moved against him. He could even feel Blair’s pulse in the cock hardening against his abdomen. Blair’s toenails scraped against his legs and his fingers massaged his head as he continued his exploration of Jim’s mouth. Jim tried to focus on smell. He needed to memorize Blair’s scent. He needed to imprint everything about Blair in his mind, on his soul. His body needed to be able to recognize Blair’s even in crowd of thousands. Sight was easy. Sound he knew. Now Jim needed to know Blair’s touch and scent and taste as well as he knew the sound of his voice - and his heartbeat. Blair’s taste filled his mouth - imprinted. Pheromones, arousal, sweat, even tears - the scents of his body combined in Jim’s nostrils - imprinted. Jim set the bottle of lube on the floor beside them, freeing his hands to roam his guide’s body, memorizing texture, softness, hardness, warmth - imprinted.

Blair moaned deep in his throat.

Jim came.

Blair raised up, releasing Jim from his kiss. His eyes, soft with adoration, filled with tears. "Oh, Jim! That was so damn beautiful," he whispered.

"You felt that, too?" Jim gasped out.

"I felt it. I know something happened between us just now. I felt it. I’m not sure what it was, but I definitely felt it. And it was wonderful, my love. It was wonderful."

"It was... bonding? Imprinting? I don’t know how to describe it. I was memorizing you. My senses were learning your smell, feel, taste. I’ve tasted you now, blood, sweat, semen, tears, and your mouth... god, Blair, your mouth," Jim moaned as he crushed Blair against him and claimed that mouth in another passionate, claiming kiss.

Blair whimpered, pressing against him, loving every moment of it.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

When they finally moved apart, Jim spoke.

"I love your mouth, Chief" Jim said, softly. "I watch your mouth, you know. Sometimes, when I miss what you say, it’s because I got distracted watching your mouth. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve nearly zoned on your lips. And when your tongue peeks out from between them... it makes me crazy..."

The pink tip of Blair’s tongue darted out to moisten his lips. Jim groaned. Blair smiled a slow sexy smile. Moving behind Jim, he maneuvered him onto his stomach. He stared at Jim’s back for a long moment before he began.

Blair kissed his way down Jim’s back, paying special attention to his shoulders and his spine. Licking and tasting and nipping gently with his teeth as he worked his way down Jim’s sculpted body.

Jim moaned incoherently. Blair giggled as he nipped, harder, at Jim’s left buttock, then he kissed it to make better. He spread Jim’s cheeks gently and lapped lightly at Jim’s hole. Jim jumped, whimpering in pleasure.

"Up on your knees," Blair ordered softly.

When Jim complied, Blair moved into position and began rimming Jim, slowly, drawing moans and whimpers and incoherent mumbling from his helpless victim. Blair grinned. He had finally figured out the two things that would keep Jim forever at his mercy. He just had to remember the affect his mouth had on his lover’s body. And how much Jim actually adored the long hair he made snide comments about.

Without warning, Blair’s tongue probed sharply. Jim cried out. Blair wiggled his tongue and caressed with his lips. Jim sobbed, "Blair! Please!"

Blair pulled away and, caressing Jim’s lower back, whispered, "I want to see your face when I come inside you, Jim. Turn over for me."

Jim moaned in an effort to control himself as he turned onto his back and settled himself into position. Blair helped him put a pillow under his hips and then moved into position between Jim’s legs.

Lubing his fingers, he slipped one inside. Jim was relaxed, ready. Blair was careful, though. He used plenty of lube and made sure Jim could take three fingers comfortably before he stopped to lube his own hard flesh.

"I love you," he whispered as pressed slowly into Jim’s body.

Jim just moaned. He was too aroused to put thoughts together, much less words. The feel of Blair sliding slowly into his body, skin to skin, flesh alone, nothing to separate them, was beyond imagining. Maybe it was because of the sentinel/guide bond. Maybe it was as simple and as complicated as love. Whatever the reason, the feeling was incredible. As Blair completed the joining, his balls came to rest against Jim’s skin.

Jim’s sense of touch spiraled out of control. His eyes went wide and Blair could see him starting to zone. He spoke softly, "Jim, tell me what you’re feeling right now. Describe the sensations."

Jim’s breath was ragged as he focused on Blair’s voice, his words. "I-I... can’t... too much... need... Bla-air!" he moaned, rolling his head and reaching for his lover.

Blair’s hands came up to grasp Jim’s lovingly. "Jim-love," he whispered. When Jim managed to meet his eyes, Blair gave him a soft gaze filled with love and devotion.

Jim groaned and closed his eyes.

"Jim," Blair said sharply.

Jim opened his eyes, breathing hard.

Blair smiled slightly, holding Jim’s eyes with his own. "Come for me, my love," he whispered.

Jim’s orgasm exploded between them. Jim had tears flowing down his cheeks when he regained his senses. Blair was still inside him, hard and ready. He could see that Blair was trying hard to stay in control. He licked his lips. "Blair."

"Yes, Jim?" Blair sounded strained.

"Move for me," he begged.

Blair whimpered as he began to slide in and out of his lover’s body. His movements were slow and deliberate. Jim sighed. Blair looked down at him and shook for a moment. Releasing Jim’s hands, he grabbed the larger man’s hips and started pumping in and out with abandon. Faster and faster until every muscle in his body stiffened in ecstasy and he came, pouring himself deep inside Jim’s body.

Jim could feel each pulse as Blair’s semen spurted deep within him. He was astounded by the feel of it - knowing his lover was leaving a part of himself deep inside the most secret part of his body... Jim’s cock, already stiffening from the feel of Blair moving inside him, brushing his prostate, hardened again as the last pulse of Blair’s cock subsided.

Blair didn’t pull out. He just collapsed on Jim’s chest, holding on tight. Jim wrapped his arms around Blair, burying one in his curls, holding him close and safe as his penis softened inside his lover’s body.

A long while later, just as Jim began to believe Blair had fallen asleep, Blair moved. He slipped his hand between their bodies and stroked Jim’s hard cock, slowly. Smiling, he pulled away and his limp, satisfied cock slipped from Jim’s body.

"Do you want to switch places? Or do you want me to ride you?"

Jim’s eyes widened as he recognized the meaning of Blair’s question. "Which would you prefer? Do you want me to control it or do you want to?"

Blair actually blushed. "I want you to..." he whispered.

Jim smiled a slightly feral smile as he flipped Blair onto his back beneath him. "Good!" he growled in satisfaction.

Blair sighed happily as Jim’s flexible fingers, quickly coated in lube, began to stretch his opening. Blair couldn’t help but notice Jim had once again buried a hand firmly in his hair. Love and pleasure combined in a rush of pure sensation, making Blair hard again. He grinned.

Jim grinned back. Satisfied that Blair was ready, Jim spread the lube hurriedly over his cock and positioned himself. Determined to return the experience Blair had given him, he pressed slowly into his beloved’s body.

"Ahhh..." Blair moaned in pleasure as he felt Jim enter him inch by glorious inch. When Jim was fully inside him, he understood - the feeling was sheer ecstasy. Jim was finally a part of him. "Complete," he gasped as he came. The clenching of his muscles drove Jim over the edge as well.

They curled up in each other’s arms, holding tight, and slept.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

END PART 5